HOUSTON – A few quick notes and thoughts in advance of the Hall of Fame announcement at 11 a.m. local time:

Inductees will be revealed in five categories: ABA, Early African-American Pioneers, International, Veterans, and Contributor. These are direct-elect votes, with only a single round of balloting, and no more than one winner from each. It is possible, though unlikely, that no one is elected.

Finalists will be announced from the North American committee – the body that handles the majority of nominees with NBA ties – and the Women’s committee. Anyone making this initial cut will move forward to an additional round of scrutiny and need support from 18 of 24 voters to be elected. Those results will be announced at the Final Four.

The winner of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor from the Hall short of induction, will be named. So will recipients of the Curt Gowdy Media Award, one for the print side and one from the electronic.

Had a fun conversation with Spencer Haywood on Thursday. He is upbeat about his chances to get good news today and hopeful for really good from the Final Four. Haywood even linked his chances to a Seattle resurgence: He could make the Hall of Fame the same year as Gary Payton does and the city gets the NBA back.

I didn’t include Nick Galis in the rankings of nominees with NBA ties most deserving for induction, but could have with an asterisk: The New Jersey native who played at Seton Hall was a fourth-round pick of the Celtics, but didn’t make it out of training camp. In Greece, though, he became one of the greats of Europe as a high-scoring shooting guard. He is a candidate for the Hall via the International committee.